WineGB returns to Wine Paris with expanded stand and export ambition

The UK wine trade body opens its 2026 programme with its largest ever exhibition presence as overseas interest gathers pace. A strong recent harvest adds confidence as producers look to build new routes to market.

WineGB will make its second appearance at Wine Paris from 9 to 11 February 2026 with its largest stand to date. The trade body has taken a significantly expanded space in Hall 4 E317 with 16 producers exhibiting, giving English and Welsh wine a higher profile at one of the sector’s key international fairs.

Demand from members keen to exhibit in Europe exceeded capacity, with two wineries on standby. In preparation, WineGB has shipped 4.2 tonnes of wine or 105 cases to Paris.

Export growth shapes the strategy

Interest from overseas buyers has been rising steadily. WineGB reports that export volumes increased by 35% in 2025, accounting for 9% of total sales. The organisation sees Wine Paris as a platform to extend that reach further.

The show also marks the first international rollout of WineGB’s Create New Traditions Drink English Wine campaign. The message invites trade and consumers to taste UK wines in moments of celebration, positioning them as inspired by tradition but not bound by it.

Increased engagement

Alongside its presence on the show floor, WineGB is hosting a private reception on the Monday evening in the Faubourg Saint Germain with views of the Eiffel Tower. Supported by the Department of Business and Trade, the event is designed to bring producers together with buyers, importers, distributors, press and VIP guests away from the bustle of the exhibition.

WineGB says the reception will allow members to deliver category insight in a more focused setting while strengthening relationships in key markets.

Producers on show

The WineGB line-up at Wine Paris 2026 includes Balfour, Black Chalk, Bluestone Vineyards, Chapel Down, Domaine Evremond, Exton Park, Gusbourne, Hattingley Valley, Henners, Langham, Leonardslee Family Vineyards, Rathfinny, Ridgeview, Roebuck Estates, Simpsons and Wiston.

Confidence from the vineyard

The Paris push comes after what WineGB has described as one of the most promising harvests on record. As reported by the drinks business the 2025 English and Welsh harvest delivered the ripest fruit yet recorded following the driest summer on record. Provisional findings suggest a total production of between 15 and 16 million bottles, making it the second-largest harvest by volume.

According to WineGB, growers benefited from a long warm season and an early start to picking, with most finishing by early October, around three weeks earlier than in 2024. Stephen Skelton MW, author of the harvest report, said the year could prove exceptional for still wines, particularly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the right sites, while sparkling wines are also expected to perform well.

WineGB frames the vintage as part of a wider upswing for the category. The trade body reports that overall sector growth has risen from 4% to 9% over the past five years, with exports up sharply. Full harvest data will be released by the Food Standards Agency’s Wine Standards in March 2026.

Speaking ahead of the show, Nicola Bates ceo of WineGB, said the organisation was focused on helping members prove quality and drive sales. She said last year’s Wine Paris led to discussions with 18 new markets and secured five new ones at the show, adding that she expects greater uptake this year as the sector grows.

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